CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The subject patent application claims priority to and all the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/001,750, filed on Nov. 2, 2007, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to gift wrap for wrapping a package.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Attractive gift wrapping of small and thin items, such as CD cases, DVD cases, HD DVD cases, Blue-ray Disc cases, electronic game cartridges, and the like, has been difficult and time consuming for the consumer to achieve. First, gift wrapping paper, scissors, and tape must be located. The paper needs to be cut to an appropriate size that is guessed by the consumer. When item is being wrapped, the narrow edges of these cases make it difficult, if not impossible, to obtain a clean, aesthetically pleasing package, without having substantial folding and overlapping of the gift wrapping paper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A pre-formed sheet for wrapping a package includes a generally rectangular base having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side. A first flap extends from the first side. A second flap extends from the second side. A third flap extends from the third side, opposite the second side. A fourth flap extends from the fourth side, opposite the first side. A first crease line is defined along each of the sides, for folding each of the respective flaps along the respective first crease lines. A second crease line is defined along each of the flaps and spaced a first distance from the respective first crease lines, for folding each of the respective flaps along the respective second crease lines. A wall is defined between each of the first crease lines and the respective second crease lines. A first tab extends from the wall of the first flap. The first tab extends generally parallel to the second flap. A second tab extends from the wall of the first flap, opposite the first tab. The second tab extends generally parallel to the third flap. A third tab extends from the wall of the second flap. The third tab extends generally parallel to the fourth flap. A fourth tab extends from the wall of the second flap, opposite the third tab. The fourth tab extends generally parallel to the fourth flap. A third crease line is defined between each of the walls and the respective tabs for folding each of the tabs along the respective third crease lines and relative to the respective wall.

A method is provided for wrapping a package with a pre-formed sheet having a generally rectangular base and a first flap, a second flap, a third flap, and a fourth flap extending from the base with a first crease line and a second crease line defined along each of the flaps and a plurality of tabs extending from the flaps with a third crease line defined between each of the tabs and the respective flap. The method includes placing the package on the base of the pre-formed sheet and folding each of a plurality of tabs along the respective third crease line such that each of the tabs are generally perpendicular to the base. The first flap is creased along the respective first crease line and second crease line and is folded at least partially over the base and to at least partially enclose the package. The second flap is creased along the respective first crease line and second crease line and folded at least partially over the base and the first flap to at least partially enclose the package. The third flap is creased along the respective first crease line and second crease line and folded at least partially over the base, the first flap, and the second flap to at least partially enclose the package. The fourth flap is creased along the respective first crease line and second crease line and folded at least partially over the base, the first flap, the second flap, and the third flap to enclose the package.

By forming a pre-formed sheet of paper, having flaps and tabs, a thin item can be wrapped without using scissors to cut off any excess paper. As a result, an aesthetically wrapped package, having neat fully finished corners and edges, can be achieved.

The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the figures, which are exemplary embodiments and wherein like elements are numbered alike:

FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of a pre-formed sheet wrapped around a package;

FIG. 2 is a perspective bottom view of the pre-formed sheet wrapped around the package;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the pre-formed sheet having a plurality of flaps and tabs in an open and unfolded position and indicating a plurality of crease lines for folding the sheet around the package;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the pre-formed sheet of FIG. 3 illustrating the tabs folded about the respective crease lines and the flaps in the unfolded position;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the pre-formed sheet of FIG. 3 illustrating the tabs and a first flap folded about the respective crease lines and the remaining flaps in the unfolded position;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the pre-formed sheet of FIG. 3 illustrating the tabs and three of the flaps folded about the respective crease lines and the remaining flap in the unfolded position; and

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the pre-formed sheet of FIG. 3 illustrating the tabs and the flaps folded about the respective crease lines to wrap and enclose the package.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components, FIG. 1 shows a pre-formed sheet 10 for wrapping a package 11 having a generally rectangular cubic shape having six sides and twelve edges around a perimeter. For example, the package 11 may be a CD case, a DVD case, and the like. The pre-formed sheet 10 may be formed from paper or any other foldable material known to those skilled in the art. The sheet 10 includes a generally rectangular base 12 having a first side 14, a second side 16, a third side 18, and a fourth side 20. The first side 14 opposes the fourth side 20 and the second side 16 opposes the third side 18. The first and fourth sides 14, 20 have a first width W1 and the second and third sides 16, 18 have a second width W2. A first flap 22 extends from the first side 14. A second flap 24 extends from the second side 16. A third flap 26 extends from the third side 18, opposite the second side 16. A fourth flap 28 extends from the fourth side 20, opposite the first side 14. A first crease line 30 is defined along each of the sides, for folding each of the respective flaps 22, 24, 26, 28 along the respective first crease lines 30. A second crease line 32 is defined along each of the flaps 22, 24, 26, 28 and spaced a first distance D1 from the respective first crease lines 30, for folding each of the respective flaps 22, 24, 26, 28 along the respective second crease lines 32. The first and/or second crease lines 30, 32 may be imprinted on the sheet 10 for indicating where to fold the flaps 22, 24, 26, 28, relative to the base 12. Alternatively, the first and/or second crease lines 30, 32 may be pre-creased to ease folding around the corners of the package 11. The pre-creasing greatly aids in the ease of wrapping and also improves the finished appearance of the wrapped product. A wall 34 is defined between each of the first crease lines 30 and the respective second crease lines 32.

A first tab 36 and a second tab 38 may extend from opposing walls 34 of the first flap 22 such that the first tab 36 extends in the same general direction as the second flap 24 and the second tab 38 extends in the same general direction as the third flap 26. Therefore, the first tab 36 may extend generally parallel to the wall 34 of the second flap 24 and the second tab 38 may extend generally parallel to the wall 34 of the third flap 26. A third tab 40 may extend from the wall 34 of the second flap 24, opposite the first tab 36. The third tab 40 may extend generally parallel to the wall 34 of the fourth flap 28. A fourth tab 42 may extend from the wall 34 of the second flap 24, opposite and in parallel relationship to the third tab 40. The fourth tab 42 may extend generally parallel to the fourth flap 28. A third crease line 44 is defined between each of the sides and the respective tabs for folding each of the tabs 36, 38, 40, 42 along the respective third crease lines 44 to form a finished corner 46 therebetween. The third crease line 44 may be imprinted on the sheet 10 for indicating where to fold the flaps 22, 24, 26, 28 relative to the base 12. Alternatively, the third crease lines 44 may be pre-creased to ease folding around the corners of the package 11. The pre-creasing greatly aids in the ease of wrapping and also improves the finished appearance of the wrapped product.

The package 11 is wrapped within the preformed sheet 10 by placing the package 11 on the base 12 and folding each of the tabs along the respective third crease line 44 such that the tabs 36, 38, 40, 42 are generally perpendicular to the base 12. The first flap 22 is creased along the respective first crease lines 30 and second crease line 32 and folded at least partially over the base 12 and the package 11. As the first flap 22 is folded over the package 11, the wall 34 that is defined between the first and second crease lines 30, 32 of the first flap 22 covers a respective side of the package 11 and the first and second crease lines 30, 32 align with the respective edges of the package 11. Therefore, the first distance D1 of the wall 34 for each of the flaps 22, 24, 26, 28 is approximately equal to the thickness or height of the respective sides of the package 11. As a result, the first and second crease lines 30, 32 of the flaps 22, 24, 26, 28 and tabs 36, 38, 40, 42 are aligned with the respective edges of the package 11. Likewise, the third crease lines 44 of the first and second tabs 36, 38 align with the respective edges of the package 11. The second and third flaps 24, 26 are also creased along the respective first and second crease lines 30, 32 and folded at least partially over the first flap 22 and the package 11. As the second and third flaps 24, 26 are folded over the package 11, the walls 34 that are defined between first and second crease lines 30, 32 of each of the first and second flaps 22, 24 cover a respective side of the package 11 such that the first, second, and third crease lines 30, 32, 44 of the third and fourth tabs 40, 42 are aligned with the respective edges of the package 11. The fourth flap 28 is creased along the respective first and second crease lines 30, 32 and folded at least partially over each of the first flap 22, second flap 24, and third flap 26 and the package 11 to completely enclose the package 11 within the sheet 10.

To assist in forming the finished corners 46, each of the tabs 36, 38, 40, 42 taper from the respective wall 34 to an end 48 having a tab width TW. Therefore, the tab with TW at the end 48 of each tab 36, 38, 40, 42 is less than the first distance D1 of the walls 34. Tapering each of the tabs 36, 38, 40, 42 ensures that each tab 36, 38, 40, 42 remains between the first and second crease lines 30, 32 of the corresponding wall 34 of the adjacent tab 36, 38, 40, 42 when the flaps 22, 24, 26, 28 and tabs 36, 38, 40, 42 are folded about the package 11. Therefore the tapered tabs 36, 38, 40, 42 help to ensure the finished corners 46 are straight even when one or more of the flaps 22, 24, 26, 28 are not folded exactly along one or more of the crease lines 30, 32, 44.

The first flap 22 extends from the first crease line 30 to a first edge 50, having a first exterior width WE1. The first flap 22 may taper from the first crease line 30 to the first edge 50 such that the first exterior width WE1 is less than the first width W1 of the base 12. The second flap 24 extends from the first crease line 30 to a second edge 52, having a second exterior width WE2. The second flap 24 may taper from the first crease line 30 to the second edge 52 such that the second exterior width WE2 is less than the second width W2 of the base 12. The third flap 26 extends from the first crease line 30 to a third edge 54, having a third exterior width WE3. The third flap 26 may taper from the first crease line 30 to the third edge 54 such that the third exterior width WE3 is less than the second width W2 of the base 12. The fourth flap 28 extends from the first crease line 30 to a fourth edge 56, having a fourth exterior width WE4. The fourth flap 28 may taper from the first crease line 30 to the fourth edge 56 such that the fourth exterior width WE4 is less than the first width W1 of the base 12. The first flap 22 extends a first length L1 from the second crease line 32 to the first edge 50. The second flap 24 extends a second length L2 from the second crease line 32 to the second edge 52. The third flap 26 extends a third length L3 from the second crease line 32 to the third edge 54. The fourth flap 28 extends a fourth length L4 from the second crease line 32 to the fourth edge 56. The fourth length L4 may be longer than the first length L1 and the third length may be longer than the second length 12. The flaps 22, 24, 26, 28 may be tapered and have differing lengths L1, L2, L3, L4 to ensure that when the flaps 22, 24, 26, 28 are folded over the package L1, the flaps 22, 24, 26, 28 do not overhang the package 11.

The fourth edge 56 may include a pair of flap corners 58. Each of the flap corners 58 may be rounded to provide a neat appearance when the fourth flap 28 is folded over the package 11. An adhesive 60 may optionally be disposed on the third flap 26, proximate the third edge 54. A removable covering 62 may extend over the adhesive 60 on the third flap 26. When the covering 62 is removed, the adhesive 60 on the third flap 26 adheres the third flap 26 to the second flap 24 to secure the second flap 24 to the third flap 26. An adhesive 60 may also be disposed on the fourth flap 28, proximate the fourth edge 56. The removable covering 62 may extend over the adhesive 60 on the fourth flap 28. The adhesive 60 on the fourth flap 28 adheres the fourth flap 28 to the first flap 22 to secure the fourth flap 28 to at least one of the first flap 22, the second flap 24, and the third flap 26 and keep the gift wrap secured around the package 11. It should be appreciated that other methods of adhesion of the flaps may also be used as know to those skilled in the art.

Placement instructions 64 may be presented on the base 12 or any other portion of the sheet 10 for indicating a location of placement of the package 11 upon the base 12, within the first crease lines 30. Folding instructions 66 may be presented on the fourth flap 28 or any other portion of the sheet for indicating a sequential order for creasing each of the first, second, and third crease lines 30, 32, 44 and folding the flaps 22, 24, 26, 28 around the package 11.

While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.